Reading's first-time buyers have one of the hardest tasks in country to get on the property ladder

It's hardly a secret house prices in Reading are sky high and there's no sign of them slowing down.

Crossrail, business opportunities and a close proximity to London are just several reasons why this is the case.

And now statistics published by the Land Registry have revealed just how much you’ll have to stump up if you want to start climbing the property ladder.

The average house price among first-time buyers in Reading has leapt by more than £40,000 in the past year.

The average price for first-time buyers in Reading reached £266,017 in May 2016, up by 17.8 per cent compared to £225,749 in May 2015.

This increase is significantly higher than the national average with prices for first-time buyers increasing by 9.1 per cent across England over the same period.

£266,017

Average price for Reading first-time buyers

The stats mean first-time buyers in Reading would need to have a deposit in excess of £26,000 (assuming a 10 per cent deposit) and pay around £1,250 per month on a 25-year mortgage.

West Berkshire saw a 16.3 per cent increase in price for first-time buyers, with the average being £275,731.

There were similar price increases in both Bracknell and Wokingham, with prices going up by 14.7 and 14.5 per cent respectively.

Within Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead is the most expensive area for first-time buyers with the average property going for £377,916 in May 2016, up 11.6 per cent compared with the previous May.

Across the whole of England the average cost of a house for first-time buyers reached £191,099 in May 2016 up from £175,211 the year before.

It means that prices for first-time buyers rose faster than prices for all house purchasers over the past 12 months. The average house price irrespective of buyer status rose by 8.9 per cent between May 2015 and May 2016.

And the most expensive place in country for first-timers?

Kensington and Chelsea with the average cost in May 2016 reaching a staggering...£1.1 million.